A High School Tennis Coach’s Handbook

“ [H]ow exactly do we find or make these kinds of selfless, dedicated role models for our teenagers? Well, for starters they could read this book … Gessford’s writing brims with concrete advice and suggestions … Integrity and commitment run through Gessford’s book … The loudest message is his clear wish that a team become ateam.” Inside Tennis

“Roy Gessford will lead you step-by-step down the path to successful coaching with his first hand experience and knowledge of the game. This is the perfect guide for teachers, tennis enthusiasts, and coaches to develop a winning team strategy in an individualized sport. Roy offers an easy to understand formula that takes the coach from the first day of practice to the end-of-season awards banquet.”Kie Foreman – Director of Tennis at the Beach and Tennis Club of Pebble Beach

“I’ve known Roy for many years and have always admired his skill as a player, his dedication as a coach and his personal integrity. He has contributed toward the growth of tennis here on the Monterey Peninsula in so many ways and his primary objective has always been his students’ improvement and enjoyment of the game. The insights he shares in his guidebook for coaches should be of great practical help to anyone looking to improve their high school program.”Rick Manning – PBI professional, Former Director of Tennis, Gardiner’s Ranch

“There may be no more qualified person than Roy Gessford to write a handbook for tennis coaches. Not only can he play the game of tennis, but he knows the game inside and out — length, width, and depth. Probably most importantly, he knows people and how to work with them to maximize their potential. Ultimately, this is not just a book about how to coach tennis, but rather tennis as a metaphor on how to live your life.”Roger Dahl – Cal State University, Monterey Bay, Faculty, CalStateTEACH

“Coach Gessford’s handbook is an invaluable tool for coaches and players at all levels. These principles apply not only to middle and high school teams, but to the USTA teams I play on and the college team I coach. A must read for any tennis enthusiast! ”Liz LaPlante, UC San Diego Women’s Tennis Coach

“Roy Gessford has created an ideal primer for high school tennis coaches. His ability to explain and define the major concepts that a tennis coach needs to understand is outstanding. By reading and working through this book, you will become better prepared for practice, have a plan on what to practice, have a strategy for match situations, and gain an understanding of off-court issues that all coaches deal with.
A great book!”Eric Steidlmayer, UC Davis Men’s Head Tennis Coach

“Gessford serves an ace as he shines light on the everyday challenges, scenarios, and rewards one will face and attain as a new or even as a seasoned coach. His experience, understanding and perspective have combined to give a clear and concise message, beneficial to any coach.

Gessford’s insights have helped me rebuild and solidify the foundation for a boy’s program here at Alisal High School that was dormant for 15 years. Our boys have gained many life skills through tennis in only a three-month period. With all players competing for the first time in high school play, the team gained immediate respect for their ability to compete, positive attitudes, and improvement throughout the season. What else can we ask from our student-athletes?”Guillermo Camacho, Girls and Boys Tennis Coach, Alisal High School

“A remarkable book! Coach Gessford has written a manual that will help guide any tennis coach to a successful season while avoiding the pitfalls so common to tennis coaches. The order and structure are especially helpful for middle and high school tennis coaches, but any tennis enthusiast will benefit.”Gary Scanlon, Junior Development Director, Westside Tennis Club, Austin, TX

“Roy Gessford’s handbook for high school tennis coaches is remarkably well thought out and written in great detail, yet simple and enjoyable to follow. This is a great resource for any high school coach as it covers every aspect of what a high school coach will experience. You can tell that Roy’s objective with sharing his knowledge and insight is to help coaches remember what being a high school tennis coach is all about … and it’s to give their students an opportunity to learn a great sport they can enjoy for a lifetime.”Peanut Louie Harper, Former Top 20 WTA, Co-Founder Harper For Kids